Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and longtime assistant coach Dick Hoak passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86. Hoak spent his entire 35-season tenure with the franchise as a player and coach, winning five Super Bowls and earning a spot in the team’s Hall of Honor.
Playing Career and Coaching Tenure
A former star at Penn State, Hoak played for the Steelers from 1961 through 1970, recording 5,417 yards from scrimmage and 33 touchdowns. His standout individual campaign came in 1968, when he earned a Pro Bowl selection after totaling 1,111 yards from scrimmage, which included 858 rushing yards, 253 receiving yards, and 4.9 yards per carry.
Following a single season coaching high school football, Hoak joined the Steelers coaching staff in 1972 under head coach Chuck Noll. He served as the offensive backfield coach until Noll retired in 1991. When Bill Cowher took over in 1992, Hoak was the sole assistant retained from the previous staff, transitioning to the title of running backs coach. He continued in that role for Cowher’s entire 15-year tenure until both retired following the 2006 campaign.
Super Bowl Success and Legend Mentorship
Hoak was a vital part of the coaching staff for five Super Bowl victories, specifically Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV, and XL. During his decades on the sidelines, he mentored numerous franchise and league legends, including Hall of Honor members Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, Rocky Bleier, and Willie Parker. The backfield tandem of Harris and Bleier served as a foundational element of the Steelers dynasty during the 1970s.
Success continued in later decades, particularly with Bettis leading the ground game through the 1990s and 2000s. Jerome Bettis described him in 2004 as a dream for running backs, noting that Hoak provided both the freedom to run based on instinct and a deep understanding of team philosophy. Additional running backs who surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage in a single season under Hoak’s guidance included Barry Foster, Merril Hoge, and Frank Pollard.
Tributes and condolences poured in from across the football community following his passing, including remembrances from Hoge and former Steelers defensive back Tony Dungy. Steelers President Art Rooney II released a statement acknowledging the loss. Hoak was married for 54 years to his wife, Lynn, who passed away in 2019, and is survived by three children and seven grandchildren.
